What Sotel Groupe does

Sotel Groupe is a France-based private security group founded in 1986, headquartered in L'Union (Occitanie), and operated as a SA à Directoire with 100% French capital. The company positions itself as the only fully French-owned major in France's private security sector, serving banking, logistics, retail, government, airport, and high-risk industrial clients including SEVESO-classified sites and OIV (Operators of Vital Importance). As of 2023, Sotel monitored more than 55,000 sites (up from 50,000 in 2021) and operated with approximately 450 employees across five APSAD P5-certified remote monitoring stations in L'Union, Bruges, Gentilly, Sartrouville, and Puget-sur-Argens. Named customers disclosed in source material include BNP Paribas (entire French banking network), Carrefour, Picard, Fnac Darty, MAIF, Nantes Métropole, EPC Groupe, Terega, and Eurowatch.

The core product is Sotel Télésurveillance, a 24/7 subscription remote-monitoring service backed by a mirror-mode IT architecture first deployed in 2000 to ensure continuity of service. An APSAD P5 service-level commitment guarantees alarm handling in less than 60 seconds with a minimum of two operators continuously on station. Proprietary technology layers include Telscope (a browser-based client portal without plugins, providing alarm history, intervention reports, and statistical queries) and Cybergardiennage, an AI-powered computer-vision system that interrogates on-site video recorders every two minutes to detect human silhouettes, animals, and objects, then escalates flagged sequences to human operators for validation. Additional proprietary tools include Eforsair (airport security management software), the PTI-DATI isolated-worker 50g smartwatch with GPS and indoor radio beacon localization, and a Qualiopi-certified training platform under the EFORSA airport firefighter brand. Installation and maintenance services operate under SCS and Sotel Concept Sécurité with APSAD R82 and NF 367-I80 certifications.

Revenue is generated across five streams: (1) recurring monthly subscription fees for telesurveillance and lone-worker monitoring; (2) installation and maintenance delivered through SCS and Sotel Concept Sécurité under APSAD R82 and NF 367-I80 certifications; (3) Qualiopi-certified professional training (fire safety, private security, electrical certification, first aid); (4) managed airport security services (SSLIA, SPRA, SSIAP, falconry, medical); and (5) managed fleet and cargo geolocation, with reported outcomes of 100% vehicle recovery on 13,000 tracked vehicles and €15M of diverted goods recovered. Pricing is project-specific, quote-based following on-site security audits, with multi-year contracts. Reported group revenue reached €46M+ in 2023, up from €40M+ after the 2021 acquisitions, with AED and JD2M contributing an incremental €6.4M and 45 employees in January 2023. Go-to-market relies on a direct enterprise sales force targeting large accounts in banking, retail, logistics, public administration, airports, and sensitive industrial sites, supported by a network of 150+ qualified partners and the Alian's GIE (joint grouping with TEB and Inorix for national coverage).

Name

Sotel Groupe

Legal name

SA à Directoire Groupe Sotel

Website

https://sotel.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Sotel Groupe is a France-based private security firm operating five APSAD P5-certified remote monitoring centers serving 55,000+ sites. Founded in 1986, it delivers subscription telesurveillance, installation, training, AI video surveillance, and airport security to banking, retail, logistics, government, and industrial clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Remote Security Monitoring & Surveillance Services

NAICS

Investigation, Guard, and Armored Car Services (56161), Security Systems Services (56162), Security Guards and Patrol Services (561612)

SIC

Services-Detective, Guard & Armored Car Services (7381)

akta.pro primary industry

Security Systems Monitoring & Dispatch (SOC/Remote Guarding) (IMAIAEAF)

Keywords

• Remote security monitoring
• Video surveillance systems
• Access control installation
• Airport security services
• Isolated worker protection

Headquarters

HQ city

L'Union, Occitanie

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel

Revenue model

1. Remote Monitoring / Telesurveillance Services: Recurring subscription-based remote monitoring services connected to APSAD P5-certified control centers. Covers intrusion detection, fire, access control, video verification, and lone worker monitoring. Revenue is generated through monthly monitoring fees and per-site charges, with 24/7 operator response, alarm processing, and remote verification services.
2. Security System Installation and Maintenance: Installation and ongoing maintenance of video surveillance, access control, fire safety, intrusion detection, electrical systems, telecommunications, alert systems, and PPMS plans. Delivered through subsidiary Sotel Concept Sécurité. Revenue is generated through project-based installation fees and recurring maintenance contracts.
3. Security Training: Professional training programs covering fire safety, private security, first aid and occupational health, and electrical certification. Delivered through Qualiopi and CNAPS-certified training centers including EFORSA for airport firefighters.
4. Airport Security Services: Specialized airport security services including aircraft firefighting (SSLIA), wildlife hazard prevention (SPRA), fire safety and person assistance (SSIAP), airport falconry, and emergency medical services. Provided through dedicated airport security teams.
5. Geolocation and Asset Tracking: Real-time fleet and cargo tracking services for trucks, construction equipment, and luxury vehicles. Includes hidden GPS trackers in cargo, geofencing, remote immobilization, and integration with monitoring centers. Partnerships with specialized geolocation providers supply hardware.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Sotel Groupe provides 24/7 remote monitoring (télésurveillance) from five APSAD P5-certified control centers, supported by installation and maintenance of physical security systems (video surveillance, access control, intrusion, fire), specialized airport security services (SSLIA, SPRA, SSIAP), isolated worker protection (PTI-DATI devices), vehicle and cargo geolocation, AI-powered video analysis (Cybergardiennage), and professional security training (Sotel Formation, EFORSA). The full stack is sold to French enterprises and public bodies in banking, logistics, retail, sensitive industry, airports, and public administration.

Product overview

Sotel Groupe operates as a comprehensive security services provider organized around a core remote monitoring platform (Télésurveillance) supported by five APSAD P5 certified monitoring centers. The portfolio includes complementary modules: installation and maintenance of physical security systems (video surveillance, access control, fire safety, intrusion detection), airport security services (SSLIA, SPRA, SSIAP), isolated worker protection devices (PTI/DATI watches), vehicle and cargo geolocation, AI-powered cybergardiennage video analysis, and professional training services. The Telscope proprietary reporting tool provides clients with web-based access to alarm history, intervention records, and statistics. The company serves banking, logistics, retail, government, airport, and industrial sectors with 100% French capital.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• EFORSA: Airport firefighter training center providing continuous training for airport firefighting teams
• Eforsair
• Telscope
• Cyber-gardiennage

Products and services

• Sotel Télésurveillance (Remote Monitoring) 24/7 remote monitoring and surveillance service delivered from five APSAD P5-certified control centers. Covers intrusion detection, fire, access control, video verification, and lone worker monitoring with alarm handling and remote verification for businesses and high-risk sites.
• Sotel Concept Sécurité - Installation et Maintenance Installation and ongoing maintenance services for security systems covering video surveillance, access control, fire safety, intrusion detection, electrical systems, telephony and networks, alert systems, and PPMS plans. Delivered through subsidiary Sotel Concept Sécurité with NF and APSAD certifications.
• Sotel Sécurité Aérienne (Airport Security) Specialized airport security services including SSLIA aircraft firefighting, SPRA wildlife hazard prevention, SSIAP fire safety and person assistance, airport falconry, and emergency medical services. Provided through dedicated airport security teams.
• PTI/DATI - Protection des Travailleurs Isolés Isolated worker protection solutions including PTI watches and DATI devices with SOS functionality, automatic alert triggers (immobility, loss of verticality, absence of movement), GSM connectivity, GPS/radio localization, and integration with Sotel's P5 certified monitoring centers.
• Géolocalisation (Vehicle & Cargo Tracking) Vehicle and cargo geolocation services providing real-time tracking, theft recovery, remote intervention capabilities, and integration with monitoring centers for professional transport, logistics, and fleet management.
• Cybergardiennage (AI-Powered Video Analysis) AI-powered video surveillance analysis service installed on APSAD P5-certified servers that automatically detects human silhouettes, animals, and objects. Interrogates client video recorders every two minutes and alerts operators when threats are identified.
• Sotel Formation (Security Training) Professional training programs covering fire safety, private security, first aid and workplace safety, and electrical certification, delivered through Qualiopi and CNAPS-certified training centers including EFORSA for airport firefighters.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% of 13,000 stolen vehicles recovered through geolocation services
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• ArtifeelcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2022Sotel entered Artifeel's capital and formed a strategic partnership around the Check'In autonomous AI-powered alarm. Artifeel is a smart-home security startup (founded 2021, 12 employees) that developed Check'In, a 100% autonomous alarm requiring no wifi or electricity. Sotel provides remote monitoring integration while Artifeel contributes AI detection technology. Both companies share a strategic vision for the future of security and surveillance.
• EurowatchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSotel has partnered with Eurowatch to provide continuous tracking and geolocation services for luxury vehicles. In cases of theft, hijacking, or carjacking, Sotel provides real-time vehicle position data to law enforcement to facilitate recovery. This partnership demonstrates Sotel's geolocation capabilities.
• Alian's GIE (TEB + Inorix + Sotel)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlian's is an economic interest group (GIE) formed in 2019 combining three major French security players: TEB (40+ years, video surveillance and security systems integration), Inorix (2018, corporate reception and private security services), and Sotel (1986, remote monitoring). The group provides a single national contact for comprehensive security solutions spanning surveillance technology, human guarding, and remote monitoring.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights8 records

Direct peers

• Groupe S2P Sécurité: French private security group combining human guarding, electronic security installation and remote monitoring for retail, industry and public-sector clients. Direct competitor to Sotel across installation, monitoring and guarding.
• EPS (European Protection System): French private security operator offering remote monitoring, intrusion detection, video surveillance and guarding to enterprise and SMB customers. Closely comparable mid-market competitor in the same regulatory and customer landscape as Sotel.
• Verisure: Europe's largest monitored alarm provider (formerly Securitas Direct), operating subscription-based remote monitoring and intrusion detection across multiple European countries. Closely aligned with Sotel's core télésurveillance model and bank/retail/SMB customer segments, but at materially larger scale.
• Protec Groupe: Independent French security group providing remote monitoring, electronic security installation and on-site guarding. Comparable privately-held mid-market peer serving similar enterprise and sensitive-site segments in France.

Emerging players

• Antemys (Sécurité & Téléassistance): French remote-monitoring and lone-worker/tele-assistance operator serving SMEs and public-sector clients. Smaller and more focused on lone-worker protection than Sotel, but directly comparable in subscription-based APSAD-certified monitoring.
• OTOR (Sécurité & Vidéosurveillance): French provider of video surveillance platforms, remote monitoring and security system installation. Comparable mid-market French peer overlapping with Sotel in installation/maintenance and remote video services.

Broad incumbents

• Stanley Security (France): Global security integrator providing installation, monitoring and managed services for intrusion, video and access control. Overlaps with Sotel in enterprise remote monitoring and installation but serves customers as part of a worldwide services platform.
• Fichet Group: European physical-security specialist in high-security doors, vaults and integrated electronic security for banks and sensitive sites. Adjacent to Sotel in banking/sensitive-site security, with overlapping installation and certified-equipment capabilities.
• Securitas France: French arm of the global Securitas security services group, offering guarding, mobile patrol, remote monitoring and electronic security to enterprise clients. Directly overlaps with Sotel in monitoring and installation, but as part of a much broader global portfolio.
• Brink's France: Cash-in-transit, secure logistics and electronic security provider in France. Comparable to Sotel's armored/secure-movement and monitoring capabilities for banking and retail customers, though anchored on cash-handling rather than core remote monitoring.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sotel

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sotel Groupe